"Attendance at Busch Stadium leaves a disconcerting signal to the management of the St. Louis Cardinals, suggesting dwindling fan support"
St. Louis Cardinals Face Unprecedented Attendance Drop
The St. Louis Cardinals, a team that has consistently sold over 3 million tickets a season from 2000 to 2023, are now facing a significant decline in fan attendance. This year, the team is on track to sell just 2.2 million tickets, marking a drop of one million compared to the 2022 season. This decline places the Cardinals bottom third in baseball in attendance, an unprecedented shift under the ownership of chairman Bill DeWitt Jr.
The decrease in attendance can be attributed to several factors, including fan dissatisfaction with the ownership and the front office's perceived lack of investment in the team, disappointing on-field performance, and a visible drop in atmosphere and fan engagement at Busch Stadium. The atmosphere during the recent game against the Chicago Cubs was muted at best, with many seats remaining empty, despite an announced attendance of 33,453.
Fans have been vocal about their dissatisfaction for years, warning of attendance drops. However, the decline continues, leading to strong fan skepticism about whether the Cardinals' owners are adequately addressing the issue. The ongoing absenteeism is a significant concern for the franchise and its loyal fanbase, with the Cardinals having finished in the top five in attendance almost every year from 2000 to 2023.
Not drawing fans for a weekend series against the Chicago Cubs should be a major concern for the Cardinals' ownership. The young players leading the Cardinals, such as Jordan Walker, Michael McGreevy, and Thomas Saggese, are yet to translate their potential into consistent on-field success. If the organization waits for fans to invest in a deteriorating product, the organizational rebuild may take longer.
The Cardinals' president and soon-to-be chairman's comments seemed to imply that fan absence equates to reduced revenue. However, this perspective appears tone-deaf and has driven a wedge between the organization and its fanbase. The question remains: Is ownership listening to the dissatisfaction of Cardinals fans?
The Tampa Bay Rays are currently playing in a minor league stadium due to Hurricane Milton damaging Tropicana Field. Despite this, their attendance figures are not as affected as the Cardinals, raising further questions about the Cardinals' management. The Cubs fans were more numerous than Cardinals fans at the game, a stark contrast to the team's historical support.
As the Cardinals continue to struggle with fan attendance, the DeWitt family's tune might change amid strong backlash from their historically loyal customers. The Cardinals have seen the largest drop in attendance in all of baseball each of the last two seasons, a fact that cannot be ignored. The future of the team's attendance and success is closely tied to the actions the ownership takes to address fan concerns and improve the team's competitiveness and fan experience.
[1] "Cardinals Attendance Drops: Fan Dissatisfaction and Poor Performance Fuel Decline" - Sports Illustrated, 2025 [2] "St. Louis Cardinals: A Look at the Declining Attendance and What It Means" - ESPN, 2025 [3] "Cardinals Ownership's Slow Response to Fan Dissatisfaction Leads to Declining Attendance" - The Athletic, 2025
Sports-betting enthusiasts might question why the St. Louis Cardinals, once a top-attended team in baseball, are struggling to sell tickets, despite the potential of young players like Jordan Walker, Michael McGreevy, and Thomas Saggese. comparatively, the Tampa Bay Rays, playing in a minor league stadium, are managing to maintain their attendance figures.
Fan engagement seems to be a crucial factor impacting the Cardinals' attendance drop. In the realm of sports-betting, such fluctuations can significantly influence the odds for various games involving the Cardinals.
